That’s money that came out of your pocket. A big chunk of that was pre-need sales. Them gettin folks to pay for a big, over-priced funeral in advance.

Sooooo…. think about this. You’re making payments on a $10-20 k funeral and you have paid in $5k and you loose your job and miss a payment. Guess what, you loose your money… you got nothing. OR, you decide maybe you wife and kids could use the money just to eat after you’re gone, or just pay bills. You decide that cremation may be the way to go. Try asking for a refund and see what you get, HA!

Chances of that pre-need still being there when you need it are also pretty slim as well. WHAT THEY HAVEN’T ALREADY SPENT GOES IN THE STOCK MARKET. Also, it’s like aponzie scheme. They keep some to pay for immeadiate need and spend the rest.

Don’t be stupid, do research. Search “funeral timeline” or “SCI” and see what you find. Google.

As the economy continues to falter, many folks are pushed into decisions they are not really comfortable with as far as funeral arrangements. Many are forced to choose cremation when tradition has always been burial. I think the most important part of a funeral is the coming together of the family and friends for the service. all religions usually observe some type of service. To a lot of folks, a direct cremation is not exactly fulfilling in the process of respect of their loved one’s passing or life’s memory.

I’ve tried to come up with a couple of alteratives that might help.

A complete service w/casket that results in either a burial or cremation. Your choice.

I am amazed at what some funeral homes tell families at time of death. I don’t know how some of them can sink so low. There is definatly no ethics in the funeral business, at least in Texas.
Yesterday, a family I have done business with several times in the past came in and picked out a brand name, high end casket to be used at the VA cem. here in Dallas. It was a very high quality, brushed silver casket with light grey velver. We delivered it to Arlington Funeral Home, here in Arlington, Tx. They are part of the Greenwood Funeral Home in Ft. Worth. The Funeral Dir. there was a real jerk. He told us that there was NEW LAWS about caskets. That they must know the Mfg. and the exact dimentions, type of steel and gauge. They had to meet certain requirments to be used at the National Cem. or any other cem. That it was a new law. I understand the need to be carefull after my last experince with a import casket, but that was the families choice, not mine to make. I just provide a service.
Now, I own 2 funeral homes and I have never heard of such a law, much less a new one. I called the Texas Funeral Service Comm. and they also never heard of such either. I have never had a problem with Greenwood FH, but Arlington FH has some real jerks working there that have no reguard for funeral laws and ethics. They will tell families any lie or deceive them in any way they can to reach their goals. I feel sorry for anyone who thies to rely on them or their honesty. There are to many other choices.
I try to tell folks to check with the BBB before making a choice. They are right 50% of the time.

EVERYTHING WE SELL MEETS OR EXCEEDS ALL CASKET REQUIREMENTS OF ANY CEMETERY OR FUNERAL HOME REQUIREMENT. WE BUY OURS WHERE THEY GET THEIRS.

This last week we performed a funeral service for a nice family here in Ft. Worth. Because of a need to save all they could, they had gone to Dallas and purchased a Chinease casket at a warehouse that imports them. I had no objection because we sell caskets as well, and you have the right to purchase anywhere you want. They brought over a nice looking wood that was supposed to be popular. The body was about 200 lbs. He fit fine. I didn’t look very hard at the casket, we just did what the family asked. That’s our job.

When we arrived at the cemetery there was a lot of friends and family there. The pall bearers took the casket from the hearse and headed to the grave. Suddenly the whole side of the casket broke off, causing the casket to fall to one side and the body fall out the side of the casket on the ground. This was a horriable situation for the family and friends to witness. We managed to get the person buried, but it was not a good thing. their attempt to save a couple of bucks on a imported casket was a mistake.

The top of the casket was indeed popular wood, but the sides and bottom were a cheap particle board made to look like real wood. They really got screwed. So much for internet caskets.

I try to sell a good quality American casket for a cheap price. They may cost a little more than Chinease but you get the quality you want that woun’t fall apart in front of the family. I don’t mind working with a family to try to find something that fits their budget. It’s my reputation on the line as well. I don’t mind working with families to provide a good service, but they need to just talk to me about it and not fall for a sales pitch.
If you read glowing reviews of the casket web sites how great they are, It’s more than a good chance it was written by the owner of the web site. Check out the Yahoo web review of Best Price Casket in Houston.